CHICAGO - This is the moment these starved Cubs fans have long clamored for, as if his presence would make up for their century of misery.

Ryne Sandberg is back.

He finally is home again.

The Hall of Fame second baseman will be at Wrigley Field all weekend wearing a major-league uniform for the first time since he retired in 1997, where his retired jersey, No. 23, hangs proudly on the right-field flag pole.

Yet, in typical, twisted Cubs fashion, Sandberg is returning as a major league manager all right, but with a different organization.

Sandberg is employed by the Philadelphia Phillies - hired two weeks ago on an interim basis.

The Cubs, who twice turned down the opportunity to hire Sandberg as manager, are headed for their fourth consecutive fifth-place finish, and 105th consecutive year without a World Series championship.

Maybe the losing would be more palatable with Sandberg as the manager.

Maybe it would be more painful to see someone so beloved in Cubs folklore being blamed for their demise, just like Alan Trammell 10 years ago in Detroit.

We may never know, but at least Friday, we'll sure how strong the sentiments are for their returning hero.

"I think the reaction will be unbelievable there,'' says former Cubs general manager Jim Hendry, who bypassed Sandberg after the 2010 season, and hired Mike Quade. "I think Wrigley will be as loud as it's ever been there. You're talking about one of the most popular players who ever played in that city.

"He's always carried himself with class.''

They'll be chanting his name from the rooftops all weekend. They'll be singing his praises at Murphy's Bleachers, with owner Beth Murphy saying Thursday how proud she is of him. They'll be tearing through their closets to find that old Sandberg jersey to wear.

It's like an old-timers' reunion game, but this weekend, they'll be celebrating one man.

"It's going to be nuts,'' says Barry Rozner, the (Arlington) Daily Herald sports columnist who co-authored book, From Second to Home, with Sandberg in 1995. "He's about as big as it gets here. He's not to get just one standing ovation, he'll get a few of them.

This weekend belongs to Sandberg. He may have started his career in Philadelphia, and is managing the Phillies now, but he'll forever be a Cubbie.

He was the one who made the Cubs relevant again, leading them to the 1984 playoffs for the first time since 1945, and winning the National League MVP award. He was the one who was the heart and soul of their franchise, taking the torch from Ernie Banks as the club ambassador. He was the one who talked the essence of playing the game right, playing it pure, and taking veiled shots at former Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa and others for their links to steroid use.

Ever after retirement, when former Cubs manager Dusty Baker and hitting coach Gary Matthews persuaded Sandberg to give managing a shot, he didn't ask for a big-league job. Not even as a coach. He went down to Class A Peoria (Ill.), where he managed for two years, and spent 45 minutes before games signing autographs for fans. He spent six years managing in the minors before joining the Phillies' coaching staff this year.

"He was always a Hall of Famer, but he didn't act like one, and people will always remember that,'' says Matthews, Sandberg's teammate for four years, including that magical 1984 season, and is now a Phillies broadcaster. "I'm so glad he finally got his chance. He'll get the best out of the players.

"I think I've already seen more hit-and-runs than all of the years I've been here.''

Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro told USA TODAY Sports on Thursday that he certainly likes what he's seen in Sandberg's winning eight of his first 14 games as manager, but says it's premature to lift the interim status. Amaro will continue evaluating and make his final decision by the season's end.

Yet, by all indications, Sandberg will be hanging around Philadelphia for awhile, just not with his jersey hanging from the flag pole.

Certainly, Hendry could have hired Sandberg himself, and perhaps retained his services longer, but didn't believe he was ready. Neither did Cubs president Theo Epstein, who fired Quade, and replaced him with Dale Sveum.

Now, the timing may be perfect, and perhaps it will make life easier for everyone with Sandberg managing in a city where he's not judged by the numbers on the back of his baseball card, but those win-loss numbers in the standings.

"I still think Ryno would have been the perfect fit right here in Chicago,'' says White Sox bench coach Mark Parent, a former minor-league coach with Sandberg in the Phillies' system, and former teammate in Chicago. "He's comfortable here. He went through all of the ups and downs as a player. They love him in Chicago. And he loves the city.

"The Cubs had their chance. Twice they had their chance. And twice they went a different direction.

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Sept. 13: Texas Rangers starting pitcher Matt Garza argues with the home plate umpire after being thrown out of the game against the Oakland Athletics at Rangers Ballpark.
Tim Heitman, USA TODAY Sports

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Joy R. Absalon, USA TODAY Sports

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Ed Zurga, Getty Images

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Umpire Tim Timmons tells Pirates starting pitcher Jonathan Sanchez he has been ejected after hitting St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Allen Craig with a pitch during the game at Busch Stadium.
Scott Rovak, USA TODAY Sports

Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons reacts as home plate umpire Mike DiMuro ejects him during an argument over a strikeout call against Toronto's Brett Lawrie in the ninth inning against the Baltimore Orioles in Baltimore.
Patrick Semansky, AP